Maker: Van Heerden & Thorburn (collaboration) (click to see more by this maker)Item num: 96285Blade length: 3.50 in.Total length: 8.50 in.Blade height (at heel): 1.35 in.Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.16 in.Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.16 in.Blade thickness (near tip): 0.06 in.Item weight: 5.00 oz.Shipment weight: 6.8 oz.Blade: M390 stainless steel, hardened to 59 HrcHandle: Titanium with a black Cerakote finish and marbled carbon fiber scalesSheath: Fleece lined zipper pouchStyle: Folding bolster lock with IKBSDescription: South African knifemakers André Thorburn and André van Heerden create exceptional folders at an amazingly low price and tremendously high skill level. Their collaborative A2 knives are some of the highest performing knives found anywhere.
The blade is perfectly centered with silky-smooth action -- easily opened with one hand using the discreet and ambidextrous flipper toggle. The blade uses the IKBS (Ikoma Korth Bearing System) pivot system. This mechanism, which was originally designed to fit balisong knives, uses ball bearings to create exceptional action with no blade play. Thorburn and van Heerden created this special A6 with ceramic ball bearings. Generally IKBS bearings are made either from tool steel or from stainless steel. Stainless steel can wear away, resulting in uneven action over time. Tool steel bearings can oxidize making the action rough. Ceramic bearings are the best of all worlds. Extremely hard and wear resistant, they are also inert and will not oxidize.
The drop point blade is formed from M390 stainless steel, a super-steel created by Bohler in Austria. M390 takes an incredibly sharp edge and holds on to it due to its high concentration of vanadium and chromium carbides. Its unique powdered metallurgical process also promotes a uniform carbide distribution and clean steel properties, making M390 a popular steel used in surgical cutting instruments and in applications requiring a high finish. It offers excellent corrosion resistance due to its high concentration of chromium. The blade is hollow ground for an easy to maintain edge.The scales are formed from marbled carbon fiber. The titanium frame features a non-reflective, black Cerakote finish. An integral bolster lock ensures a sturdy lockup. Jimping on the thumb ramp aids grip. The gently rounded handle feels sturdy and fills out the hand perfectly. The handle is completed with a carbon fiber backspacer. The machined titanium pocket clip features a black Cerakote finish and is mounted for right-handed, tip-up carry.
Exceptional!Availability: Not currently available